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Butsugen-ji is closely related to Izu Persecution. This is the
place where Nichiren Shonin was exiled, and this temple is also
known as the place where his Zuishin-butsu rests. Nearby beach there
is the famous Manaita-iwa (Chopping board rock), where Nichiren
Shonin was deserted to die by raising ocean water, and the couple,
who rescued Nichiren Shonin, Funamori Yasaburo and his wife rest
at Renkei-ji Temple in the same region.
Spring of 1261, Nichiren Shonin returned to Kamakura from Shimousa,
but he was captured and sent away to Izu. He convinced his disciple
Nichiro not to accompany him and went on a boat to be taken away
on May 21.
The boat arrived at a bank called Kawana in Ito. Yasaburo and his
wife took Nichiren Shonin in secretly and served on him. Eventually
Nichiren Shonin was sent to the local tax official, Sukemitsu Ito
to be kept under the watchful eye. However Sukemitsu turned to Nichiren-shu
when his illness was cured by Nichiren Shonin's prayer. He also
present the statue of the Buddha discovered in ocean. Nichiren Shonin
treasured and worshiped this statue as his Zuishin-butsu.
The beginning (Engi):
Sukemitsu Ito had Bishamon-do built for Nichiren Shonin to protect
him from the evil. Nichiren Shonin had lived in Bishamon-do while
he was exiled in Ito. Butusgen-ji was built where Bishamon-do once
stood.
Nichiren Shonin wrote "Shion-sho" and "Kyoki Jikoku-sho"
at this site.
The current condition:
Sanmon (the main gate) was built in late Tokugawa-era (mid 19th
century.) Soshi-do (the founder's hall) and new Bishamon-do were
built in 1951 to commemorate the 750 Anniversary of Nichiren Shonin's
birth.
Story about Nichiren Shonin's Zuishin-butsu
June of 1261, when Nichiren Shonin was exiled to Ito, something
on the bed of ocean nearby was shining day or night. People were
afraid of it as the precursor of some incident. People threw the
net into the ocean to catch the object, and the golden colored standing
statue of the Buddha was brought up to the shore. Jito (the local
tax officer) Sukemitsu Ito happened to be suffering from unknown
illness and he asked Nichiren Shonin's prayer. Then he got instantaneously
cured, and this caused him to become a follower of Nichiren Shonin.
He also presented this golden Buddha from the ocean bed. Nichiren
Shonin cherished this Buddha and carried it with him for the rest
of his life.
The most devoted practitioner of the Lotus Sutra in Japan
Nichiren Shonin had realized the relationship between the Lotus
Sutra and himself while he was exiled in Izu. Accordingly through
Izu Persecution Nichiren Shonin experienced himself what the Lotus
Sutra stated. He had reached to the conclusion that the merit of
the Lotus Sutra would lead one to repay the four essential favors:
every sentient being, the ruler, one's parents and Three Treasures
(Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) - "Shion-sho." He also realized
that he himself was the one to recognize the enemies of Hoke-kyo
in Japan - "Kyoki Jikoku-sho" .
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